Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-25
o,,,ug and Putting ON washers.

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II sounds like very common order
TO saw, "John, put set OF washers on
the carriage and oil it," but such or
ders are given to coachmen and livery
stable employees, and by it hundreds
of axles are spoiled every year. In
the first place, they have no scientific
principles to govern them in doing
the work, and think it no more than
putting a piece Of leather on the
shoulder OF the axle and piece In
tie nut, and if it is too thick
fhey will trim it down until
the wheel works free, after putting
about a gill of wheel grease on the
axle and then pushing it all off when
thew put the wheel on. Then they
EXPECT the wheel to run week with
out oiliug again. They put plenty on
the back OF the hub and axle, cover
ing the axle nut and inside OF the
front band, which makes it look as If
that was the way they creased the
carriage which many coachman
knows he is blamed for when told to
90 to the store and get box OF wash
ers, or where they are given to him.
When he gets them, OF course they
have to be used; if they are too large
he will cut piece out to make them
fit.
The washers ought to be cut the
right size in the first place, and to
make them right they must be fitted
ON the axle. The man who has charge
~ examining the wheels and axles in
q carriage shop knows by experience
the trouble he has with axles and cut
ting washers. The coachman will
come to the shop and say, 81 want a
set Of washers for my carriage" and
he may know the size of the axle but
not the style; he cuts the washers and
gives them to him; then back he
comes with them, saying he cannot
get them on, and bringing two OF
the old washers to cut the new
ones by, which will be worn too large
inside, and he will then have to guess
again at the size, which he will gener-
ally find inside of week to be wrong
Then the carriage will come to the
shop unable to hold the grease, for
the coachman was bound to put the
lost washer on, and of course there is
another set to put on tight. The man
who has the washers to cut should al
ways have the carriage to cut the
washers by. If he does not, it is only
guess-work for him, there being SC
many different styles of axles OF the
same pattern. When worn take
different style of washer than wher
new.
The man having charge Of the ex'
animation of axles should be very
particular and see that everything il
right. as, if he does not, they will gel
heated, stick and spoil the axle, fol
which we will get the blame, although
he may not always be in fault, as
manufacturers of axles are now fitting
boxes to axles very close, the same as
though for stationary machinery
which is rather too fine for the bounc'
ing q carriage receive, and they
should be more particular about the
fitting of axles, seeing that they &C
up solid at the shoulder without a
back washer on as in case Of heating
nine coachmen out Of ten will take
the back washer off, which is wrong
as the axle tapering, the further the
box goes back the tighter it gets.
Axles are usually one-fourth-inct
longer than the box to allow for the
front and back washers, which are
necessary to prevent rattling and tear.
ing away of the collar and nut; but
have noticed in many of the fines
makes of axles, after taking off the
back washer, that the box would no
70 back any further, and would ALLOW
but one-sixteenth-inch for q from
washer, which is not enough, ant
would lost but day or so if it wear
out on the front, and if it wears ou
ON the back the box will stick. Hav
ing in my experience had severa
cases of this kind, if they do not allow
for three-sixteenth-inch washer il
the nut grind them down until they
will, and then put one-eighth incl
washer on the back and fill up the
front 30 that the wheel will run fret
without rattling, since adopting which
plan l have not had box to stick.
In fitting axles, 1 clean the box O
all paint, varnish and gummy oil witt
turpentine, seeing that the box will &C
within one-sixteenth inch from the
shoulder, then put One-eighth inch
washer in the back 80 that it fits tight
ON the axle, after saturating it wei
with oil, fitting in the shoulder of the
box SO as to work free, and when the
wheel is taken off the back washer
remains on the arm; when so loose al
to come off it is apt to get dirt or sane
on it, and in putting it on twill brush
the grease back to the collar and ge
Ovor the back of the hub.
The nut washer fit tight to the nut
il a f1ange nut, working free on th,
arm. SO it will not drop in the dirt
For oiling 1 use mixture Of pur
sperm oil with enough plumbago in
to make it little thick, not puttin
on more than half teaspoonful at
time, as more than that will work out
For washers | prefer leather to any c
the many different materials they ar
made CT; it may not last as long br
answers the purpose best, as it al
sorbs the oil and becomes soft, so ths
when worn little thin the wheel
will not have the rattling noise {
often noticeable. Owners OF carriag,
should never let wheels get more tina
one-eighth inch play on the arm wit
out getting new washers on, or tt
wheels will commence to wabble al
wear the axle oval, or the box t
large for the axle, for sometimes Il
axle will be found to be the hardes
Inattention to the washers ruiz
many axles. Carriage Monthly.